Zhang vs Forrest ends in a draw

On the undercard of Canelo vs Yildirim, the fight of two heavyweights Zhang Zhilei (22-0-1, 17 KOs) and Jerry Forrest (26-4-1, 20 KOs) was assessed by the judges as a draw. The scores were 95-93 in favor of Forrest and twice 93-93.

Zhang knocked Forrest down in each of the first three rounds. However, after that, Forrest was able to recover and impose his battle plan on the enemy. A completely exhausted Zhang was deducted a point for constantly holding his opponent in the ninth. In the last round, Forrest almost brought the meeting to a stoppage, but was never able to knock out his opponent.

Also that evening, McWilliams Arroyo (21-4, 16 KOs) stopped Abraham Rodriguez (27-3, 13 KOs) in the fifth round to secure the vacant WBC interim flyweight belt. Rodriguez replaced injured WBC champion Julio Cesar Martinez just days before the fight.